The GIG Economy Podcast

What Gig Drivers Should Do When A Ride Cancels Mid-Trip | Ep 288

We would love to hear your feedback!News Links from Ep 288We dig into the week’s wild mix: snow closures and NTI days, shrinking gig hours, the end of Dovetail screenshots, Spark incentives that don’t always land, and a sober look at autonomy after Waymo’s low-speed child impact and an impatient merge around a semi. Safety, strategy, and sanity lead the way.• school shutdowns, NTI days, local differences• dovetail payouts ending and data value• spark curbside incentives vs real earnings• daytime rides vs night rides for risk control• don’t deadhead, stage and wait for pings• tax changes on tips and murky guidance• doordash healthcare routes and paid training• alcohol delivery compliance and state rules• handling canceled-ride confrontations safely• viral courier rants and doorbell cameras• waymo braking vs human reaction time• waymo blocking a semi and risk logic gaps• walmart spark metrics reset and tiers• waymo vs uber pricing trends and ETAsPlease fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!   Support the showEverything Gig Economy Podcast Related: Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

I’m Not Walking in 15 Inches For A No-Tip Order | Ep 287

We would love to hear your feedback!Ep 287 News LinksTwo friends tackle a frozen week of gig work—how storms stall demand, why some apps shut down, and where the money still flows—then zoom out to taxes, tips, and the fight for transparency. We also dig into AV stumbles, teen ride safety, and Amazon’s shifting retail play.• ice storm impacts on scheduling and safety• spark incentives and whether cold boosts earnings• 1099 tip reporting inconsistencies across apps• NYC’s 10% tip prompt and legal fallout• waymo school bus violations and near curb crash• amazon big box plans vs go and fresh pullbacks• multi-apping boundaries and store policies• lyft teen rides, pins, tracking, and audio prompts• doordash weather shutdowns and $2 storm fee• snow delivery etiquette, prep, boots, and boundariesSign up for a seven-day free trial at patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast. If you like it, great. If not, you can cancel.Please fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!   Support the showEverything Gig Economy Podcast Related: Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

An Uber Trial Could Reshape Rideshare Safety Across America | Ep 286

We would love to hear your feedback!Two hosts dig into a week of wild gig-economy stories: a convicted murder tied to a scam, a federal Uber SA trial with explosive internal messages, delivery partnerships that shift the market, and autonomy failures that expose design gaps. We weigh real fixes, from portable background checks to camera standards, and call out bad driver behavior, cash-ride risks, and privacy myths.• scam-driven shooting of an Uber Eats driver and how to prevent repeats• Reddit culture vs empathy for new drivers facing scams• home-made drinks for drivers and delivery safety norms• the appeal of being a known regular and community ties• Kiefer Sutherland arrest and driver safety liability• Uber–Kroger on-demand groceries and Postmates’ persistence• drones, Walmart pilots, and realistic tech timelines• delivery robot destroyed by a train and Waymo’s gate logic• grocery dump video, tipping debate, and quality control• rideshare legislation in Israel and taxi industry pushback• “hood Uber” cash rides, insurance gaps, and better alternatives• ICE location claims, warrant requirements, and privacy factsPlease fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!   Support the showEverything Gig Economy Podcast Related: Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

Dry January, Drier Tips Also did You Know That Men Cost 5 Cents More? | Ep 285

We would love to hear your feedback!Ep 285 News LinksWe chase a slow January across rideshare, delivery, and shopping, then dig into AI hoaxes, rising energy costs from data centers, and where autonomy helps or harms. Laws, kiosks, drones, and tipping rules collide with real driver pay and trust.• dry January reducing orders and routes• multi‑app strategies to survive slow demand• AI misinformation and fake whistleblower fallout• data centers raising electricity costs and bills• California refund mandate risks and abuse• Spark broccoli mix‑up and shopper training• Amazon Flex safe‑driving app and data privacy• Uber airport kiosks for travelers without data• Waymo track incident and robotaxi safety• Zooks launches free rides on the Strip• NYC lawsuit on tipping UI suppressing tips• Walmart and Wing expanding drone deliveryPlease fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!   Support the showEverything Gig Economy Podcast Related: Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

DoorDash “Desperation Score” Claims, Uber vs Lyft Prices & Gig Work in 2026 | Ep 284

We would love to hear your feedback!Ep 284 News LinksWe break down a wild start to 2026: rumors of a DoorDash “desperation score,” shifting incentives across Uber, Lyft, and Spark, and the thin line between algorithmic efficiency and exploitation. From a Waymo red-light fail to McDonald’s weighing bags, we push on safety, trust, and what drivers can actually control.• Uber quest math vs Lyft drought on bonuses• Spark incentives influencing supply on holidays• Long-trip deadhead realities and hourly trade-offs• DoorDash payout rumors and algorithmic steering• Government scrutiny of pricing tests and AI ethics• McDonald’s weighing deliveries to curb missing items• Uber wrapped sparking budget wake-up calls• Octopus tablet tying rewards to Uber Journey TV• Pickup trucks powering hauling and delivery side gigs• EV pullbacks and battery plants pivoting to data centers• Waymo running a red and a trunk stowaway risk• Delivery fraud by photo and string, trust erosion• Zesty by DoorDash for AI restaurant discoveryPlease fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!   Support the showEverything Gig Economy Podcast Related: Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join. TikTok Subscribe on Youtube